Electric conductor with improved ground wire



a Feb., 18, B936., l, A, BENNETT ELECTRIC coNDUcToR WITH IMPROVED GROUND WIRE yFiled Nov. 2, 1928 Q. s Q Q Q @www S 35% Patented Feb. is, 1930 y UNITED sTATi-:s'APA-TENT oFFlce vxINullIrlzlIli A. BENNETT, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T (NATIONAL ELEC- TRIO PRODUCTS WARE CORPORATION, OF NEW YORKfN. Y., A CORPORATION 0F DELA- EL)ECTRIC CONDUCTOR WITH IMPROVED GROUND WIRE Application led November 2, 1928. Serial No. 316,750.

This invention relates to improvements in wire for electrlc wiring uses.

At the present time, the use of ground return circuits is being widely advocated and in certain instances .is being positively rel connected to afcurrent carrying terminal.

When this is done the safety factors which are intended to be secured by the'employment of the ground return are not only wholly lost but the improper -connection absolutely establishes a relatively more dangerous condition. It is accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention to provide a new form of cable wherein the ground return conductor is of such form and configuration that it is 'not adapted for attachment to the screw terminals which are intended to receive the current carrying conductors.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cable with a ground return l,conductor of such configuration and so disposed in the cable that it is readily adapted to be properly connected toan outlet box or to the exposed metal parts of any unitor appliance which is to be grounded.- Furthermore, the disposition and configuration of the ground conductor is suoli that such conductor will not be confused with thecurrent carry- ,ing conductors and improperly connected in..

lieu thereof. 1

i, According to the present invention an electric cable of ordinary form is employed and preferably suchcable has the usual braided' outer covering. Disposed within such braided outer covering is a atgstrip-like conductor which is adapted to serve asa ground return. The fiat strip-like configuration of such conductor serves to revent its being` improperly connected to a inding screw terminal and such strip being disposed just below the outer covering can be readily folded back alongside the braid to establish proper ground contact with the metal parts of an outlet box or other parts. 4

Further objects and advantages will be hereinafter pointed out in the accompanying specification and claims and show in the drawings which by way of 'illustration show a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings: K

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a wire incorporating my im rovements and shown associated with an out t box or other element having-exposed metal parts which-are to be grounded. i

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig.' 1 and looking in the direction of the arrow. j

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 with certain parts broken away to show the interior construction.

In more detail the cable comprises the usual current carrying conductors 10. Each of these conductors is provided with insulation l1 and over such insulation there is disposed thev usual. braidj12. Over the braid there may be a crinkled paper wrapping as indicated at 13. Around the whole there is the usual braid or' other outer covering orr Aconductor 17 is in the form of a flat strip and is relatively broad. It is disposed just above the filler element e and below the braid 14. -Such position of the ground return conductor serves to permit its readily bein .folded backward along the outside of the raid as indicated at 17a in Figs. l and 3. In this posi- .tion it is 'adapted to be readily clamped to a part such as 18 of an outlet boxY 19 to thereby properly establish a ground return circuit thereto. i

It will beA readily understood that the current carrying conductors are of such sizem and shape (for examplenbeing relatively round) that such conductors 10 are easily wrapped around'the binding screw terminals which are intended to receive such conduc- '50 ed cover when a tors. The at stri -like round return conductor 17 on the ot er'hand is referably of such breadth that it is too vwi e for'proper association with the binding screw terminals -5 1f any attempt be made tti-improperly wrap .such vground return conductor .flatwise around a screw terminal. The strip 17 is furthermore relatively too stiff to permit its ready deformation for improper wrapping 1o about a binding screw terminal if any attempt be made' to bend it in its fiat `plane arolmd such terminal. The configurationv and disposition of the fiat stripfhow'ever, im-

mediately suggests even to the inexperienced persons that the proper disposition of such strip in making up aconnection is to bend it back along the outside of the braid so that it .will ropcrly establish contact with the expose metal parts which are to be grounded. 20 It will. further be understood'that even if the fiat ground wire or ground strip17 i s improperly connected through extremecarelessness or ignorance that the special vconjig.y

uration of the strip will afford a ready means for an electrical inspector to detect the improper connection inthe 'wiring and .cause the defect lto be remedied before the'lwiring is put into service.vl -f What I claim is:

3o 1. In a cable for electrical wiring uses hav-I ing the usual insulated current carrying conductors-which are adapted to be' connected to binding screw terminals and having in combinationtherewith aground return conduc- :tor disposed .within the cable and comprising a iiat strip of metal which is of such config- 4. 'A cable for electrical wiring uses'havthe usual current carrying conductors a apted for ready association with bindin screw terminals and having the usual brai ed outer covering and having in cvzonibination therewith a ller element between the insulated conductors and below the braided cover and a fiat strip-like ground conductor supported upon said filler element and below the braid for the urpose described.

5. A cable i) or electrical wlring uses having usual substantially round current carrying conductors adapted for4 ready association with binding screw terminals, said cable having also. the usual outer insulation covering and having dis osed withinsaid covering a y ground wire o fiat strip-like configuration s'o that improper connection of said ound wire can readily be detected byits distinctive configuration.

nature. u

iNsLEE A. BENNETT.

uration as to prevent its association with the binding screw terminals which receive the current carr ing.. conductors.

2. In a ca le or electrical wiring `ingthe usual insulated current ca rr ductors which are adapted for connectlon to.

tablished thereto.. 3. Ina cable for electrical wiring uses haveing the usual insulated current carrying con.

ground return is to be esductors adapted for easy wrapping around I bination therewith 'a round return conductor disposed within t e cable and having a iiat strip-like configuration, said strip ,hav-

ing' such breadthas to'4 hinder its association '60 -with binding screw terminalsif attempt-is slibinding screw terminals and havmg mcomy made to wrap the strip flatwise around; such. t.

terminals and such strip having such transf' verse stiness as to prevent its -ready .def-

"Mormation for wrappingv in ythe other planet' c5 around such'terminala Y y In testimony whereof I hereto aiiix my sig- *85 i 

